Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-06-10
Z" Intemperance the Enemy OF Labor. .

One of the most valuable contributions
to the discussion of the great question of
the day in America is an article under the
above caption in the current number of the
Catholic World. The author, the Rev.
DR.. Conaty, of Worcester, Mass, is one of
the ablest men Of his communion in Amer
lea, and enjoys wide popularity on ac-
count OF his connection with the Irish
Land League movement and his efforts TO
promote the Parnell tribute fund of which
he was the American Treasurer two wears
ago.
Dr. Conaty does not discuss the subject
from sectarian point Of view. He deals
with it as an economist. He tersely states
the close relations existing between labor
and capital by saying: eff labor is the
soul, capital is the body of commercial
life. The capitalist seeks Il fair profit for
his investment, and, generally speaking,
is content with such fair profit unless he
is allied with monopoly. The working1nan
seeks reasonable share in the profits he
creates. He organizes with his fellows for
that purpose. DR.. Conaty holds that the
worklngman is both a capitalist and an
Garner, his capital being bodily health,
energy, industry, and skill. Intemperance
constantly impairs this capital and lessons
its earning power. Ii man loses his
health through indulgence of strong drink.
DR.. Conaty says, be is bankrupt Health
IS his source OF strength and happiness.
and, humanelv speaking, almost his only
one: The interests Of home, family, and
society press upon him so closely that he
must protect his labor by projecting the
soundness of his body. Il The
nottingham whose habits are not temper
ate is wasting his capital, is squandering
every element of value that he can con-
tribute to any enterprise so as to secure a
remunerative share Of profits The in
temperate mans labor is worthless or
nearly so. 1ntemperance, therefore, is the
great enemy of labor, as it wastes the nro-
duclng power, and it also enfeehlcs those
Organizations of workingmeu LAT try to
exact justice from capital, plus monopoly.
Even moderate drinking hurts labor, in
asmuch as it not only depreciates the can
ltai, but also wastes the earnings thereof.
1t IS an underestimate to say that the mod.
crate orlnker spends one months wages
every year on strong liquor.
Suppose it costs Is cents per dav. That
would pay the interest on a mortgage of
81 1000; it would purchase many an article
OF household furniture; it would bring into
the nome many comforts now unknown: IL
would at least pay many bill which can
not now be met. Add to this what is snent
III protracted spree, the time lost to work
ana the wages unearned, the sickness often
resulting, and it is safe to say that intem-
p t,i robs labor of more than enough to
give decent home to every workinrman,
II the capitalists who employ workino.
men were to announce reduction of Is
cents per day in wages the workinpmen
would strike. and would issue a boycott
n against t. the the capitalist Concerning this
Then why not protest against the blood
tax which intemperance collects? Whv
calmly submit to this reduction of your
small wages? Why not strike against this
great enemy of labor and boycott rum? It
Is IKE 9: grinding capitalist; it crushes
bard earnings as bludgeon to DESTROY him. M
Cry out against the corporations that poor.
y pay your labor, unite against monopo.
lists who seek to get the most possible
work for the least possible pay; but crv